Ctenotus orientalis (Oriental Striped-skink)

Common name: Oriental Striped-skink. SVL: 82mm

Oriental Striped-skink is one of 103 species of striped-skink (Ctenotus) in Australia. Striped-skinks are also called ‘comb-eared skinks’, because of the row of small scales on the anterior edge of their ears, or simply Ctenotus. Striped-skinks belongs to the Sphenomorphus Group of skinks.

There are three striped-skinks in the Canberra region. Apart from size, the Oriental and Robert Striped-skink are very similar in appearance. Their backs have a central black stripe, and on each side of that a brown, then black, then cream stripe. Oriental Striped-skink has a series of cream-yellowish markings on the brown stripe, Robust Striped-skink does not. Robust Stripe-skink grows to a larger size (SVL 110mm compared to 82mm in the Oriental Striped-skink).

Distribution: Appears to be scattered across Canberra region but distribution pattern unclear. It occurs less frequently than Robust Striped-skink.